Riz said, "I focus on business, but it's nice to see you supporting artists too. Or is it just the one girl in your Baron's town?"

Vonn rummaged. "Oh, here's a letter from her."

Riz unrolled it; it had come in scroll form. Then she laughed and showed it off. "She's doing more with that idea of comic pictures."

In fact, the young Artist had drawn something for Riz that was labeled, "The Flying Girl". There wasn't much to it, but she'd drawn a Human piloting an airship over undiscovered countries, with a little story.

Vonn admired it. "She put in real effort for something there's only one copy of."

"I could say the same for your own trip here. Don't you and your friends plan to make many more of these boats? I've heard of a list of things you've done, but too many sound like one-off wonders."

"I get that a lot," he said, scratching one ear. "But I'm working to change that. We started doing multiple engines and multiple river boats powered by them. Then there are the bicycles, the pool tables..."

Riz laughed. "Is that where that game of pool comes from? From you! I should have guessed."

"That one was Selen's. I did ping-pong and pinball."

They traded dungeon stories. She had never done much in them, which was sensible for someone with no combat-focused abilities, but had come along to carry things and get in a few hits. There was a dungeon around here called the Prism Fountain but it was usually busy, located close to a city. "Is there a scheduling system?" asked Vonn.

"I helped redesign it. The overall magicite output has increased, and more people get to explore and have some fun. The drawback is you need to plan well in advance."

"Not for me on this trip, then. Sounds like you're starting to get some real influence."

"I am! And you have the ear of a famous wizard and a Duke. Your parents must be a little confused, if proud."

Vonn said, "The first thing Dad made me do was train to build up my Health. Beyond that it was up to me what I did, and they've been really supportive. I helped improve their candle-making business a little and now Mom helps with some toy-making."

"So where is all your work headed?"

"Picture an air-port where you can fly to another duchy in a single day. Along the way you read a book you bought for an hour's pay, and hear music recorded in another country. There are new styles of music and storytelling, earning money. And more importantly, there are good schools where people are discovering new things and trading ideas."

She laughed, with a note of nervousness. "Are you sure that's enough ambition for one lifetime?"

"It should keep me busy for a decade or two."

He went on about animated art until she held up one hand, saying, "But you need more people to make progress on so many things at once."

"I'm still working on that."

"And some discipline so you can focus on just a few!"

"So I'm told," he said.

#

He left only when the restaurant closed and shooed them out. Riz had managed to interrogate him about the whole Company's operations. But in return he'd gotten to hear about life on the lake, sailing in a little boat any direction she wanted, exploring the swamp and growing up with a flock of Aves friends. Which made her excited for the Longflight parties tomorrow. Vonn would've liked to attend the holiday in Grandbridge and see Selen in it, but this'd be a good substitute.

He spent the night back at the inn with Tazo. She said, "We had a good time. He's a dancer!"

"That's a lot of commitment to a specialized class."

She whapped him with a pillow. "Just as a hobby. Really devoted to magic, though. He helps light lamps and makes enchanted shields and glowy things."

"Any use to our team?"

Tazo lay back in bed and shrugged. "Maybe. We were talking more about the decorations for tomorrow. You've mentioned fireworks, but the magic kind seems a lot safer. He's gotten to meet the local Duke twice."

"Ahead of me, then!"

"Don't be jealous," she said, going on about how this other fox was a brilliant magic student paying his way through advanced training. Vonn rolled his eyes. Studying what was already known was important, but he and his friends were focused on new things.

#

The next day, the whole city was done up in feather-themed banners and icons of wind and clouds. The Aves were the stars, and Riz and Zovvah were quick to drag the two out of bed to come and eat with them. The strong breeze carried the scent of fried food and occasionally gusted hard enough to push Vonn around.

The bird population danced in the sky. Vonn paid little attention to the conversation as he watched Aves do formation flying, trailing long ribbons behind them. Feathery children held mock battles overhead and played a version of capture-the-flag. As soon as they were done eating, the Vulin quartet left to stand on a crowded rooftop and watch one of the day's races. The main event was an endurance race, but due to the swift crossbreeze this morning it was being pushed to afternoon. That made room for flying obstacle courses and sprints and weird stunts that worked with whatever the wind was doing.

And there were things to do on the ground, too! Firefern's team had rigged what they called a glider for people to float on in a fan-powered breeze, though Vonn called it a surfboard. Zovvah took the group to a competing booth where you could stand in a ring of paper screens with your arms out and watch illusions of rapidly streaming hills and clouds around you, as though you were soaring.

"A flight simulator!" Vonn said, laughing as he recognized it.